North Queensland Cowboys

North Queensland Cowboys
	File:Nqcowboys.png
	File:Cow horns
Club information
Full name	North Queensland Cowboys Rugby League Club
Colours	Navy, white, yellow and grey
Founded	1995
Current details
Ground(s)	Dairy Farmers Stadium (1995-current) (25,000);
CEO	Peter Parr (2006-current)
Coach	Graham Murray (2002-current)
Captain	Travis Norton (2004-current)
Competition	National Rugby League
2006	TBA
Records
Premierships	Nil
Wooden spoons	3 1995 Australian Rugby League, 1997 Super League (Australia), 2000 National Rugby League

The North Queensland Cowboys are a rugby league team based in Townsville, Queensland Australia. They were admitted to the Australian Rugby League competition in 1995, and subsequently played in the Super League competition in 1997 and the National Rugby League from 1998 to the present day. The Cowboys play their home games at Dairy Farmers Stadium. Although they have never won a premiership, the Cowboys were runners-up in 2005

History

1995, 1996: Origins

The Cowboys name and team colours were decided by public competition in 1994. Their initial jersey was navy blue and white, with grey stripes and yellow trim.

One of the major difficulties that faced by the club in their early years was attracting followers from the more established Brisbane Broncos. This was exacerbated by a lack of onfield success and stability. In their first two seasons, the Cowboys had seven different captains: Laurie Spina, Adrian Vowles, Dean Schifilliti, Jason Martin, Jonathan Davies, Bruce Sinclair, and Paul Galea.

1997: Super League

After much court action in 1995 and 1996, a ten team Super League competition was held in 1997. The Cowboys competed in this competition, and their squad was bolstered by a number of new signings including Ian Roberts and Steve Walters. They were unable to improve on the Cowboys results in previous years, and for the second time in three seasons they were to finish the season in last place.

1998, 1999: National Rugby League

In 1998 the Super League and Australian Rugby League competitions merged to form the National Rugby League (NRL). The Cowboys began their first season in this competition strongly, and after six rounds they were in equal first place. Although they fell away later in the season, they were to record the largest come-back to date in an Australian first grade rugby league, match defeating the Penrith Panthers 36-28 after trailing 26-0 at half-time. 1998 also saw the Cowboys record their largest loss to date, being defeated 62-0 by the North Sydney Bears in the last round of the home and away season.

The Cowboys signed their eleventh captain in 1999, Noel Goldthorpe. Paul Bowman was also to serve in that role during the season. Although their on-field performances were not spectacular continuing high attendence figures saw aggregate attendences exceed one million spectators.

2000-2004: Wooden spoon to finalists

In the years 2000 through to 2002 the Cowboys continued to struggle with off-field dramas and poor on-field performances. After finishing last in 2000 and second last the following year, four losses at the start of the 2002 season saw coach Tim Sheens sacked and replaced by his assistant Murray Hurst. Although they finished in their highest position to date, coach Hurst was also sacked at the end of the season, and replaced by Graham Murray. The Cowboys spent much of the 2003 season in the top eight, but ended the season four points short of a play-off position.

More signings were made for 2004, including Travis Norton, Paul Rauhihi and Glenn Morrison. The club's tenth anniversary season began in much the same fashion as in earlier years, and after seven rounds they had won just one match. In a remarkable turnaround of form, the Cowboys were able to win 12 of their remaining games, finishing in seventh position at the end of the home and away season. For the first time, they were to play in the finals series.

In their first finals match they played a Qualifying Final against the eventual premiers Bulldogs at Telstra Stadium. Against expectation the Cowboys defeated the Bulldogs 30-22. A week later at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville they defeated the Brisbane Broncos 10-0 in a Semi-Final. This was the first time that they had ever defeated the Broncos. The road to the grand final ended for the Cowboys when they were defeated by the Sydney Roosters 19-16.

2005: Grand finalists

The Cowboys followed their success in 2004 by opening their season with nine straight victories. They finished the 2005 season in fifth place, after 14 wins and 10 losses. The team's performance led to six Cowboys being represented in the Queensland State of Origin team: Paul Bowman, Matt Bowen, Ty Williams, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Sing and Carl Webb. Thurston was also rewarded by winning the NRL's best and fairest player award: the Dally M Medal.

In the first week of the finals the Cowboys travelled to Telstra Stadium where they were defeated by Wests Tigers 50-6. They were more successful in their second and third weeks of the finals, in which they defeated the Melbourne Storm and Parramatta Eels and qualified for the NRL Grand Final for the first time.

The grand final saw them once more facing the Tigers. Although Matthew Bowen scored the first try of the match, the Tigers were too strong for the Cowboys and won the match 30-16.

Records and statistics

Current Squad

Squad
Full Backs
Matt Bowen
Wingers
Matt Sing
Ty Williams
Brenton Bowen
Centres
Brett Anderson
Josh Hannay
Paul Bowman
Halves
Johnathan Thurston
Russell Aitken
Brett Firman
Hookers
Aaron Payne
David Faiumu
Props
Matthew Scott
Ray Cashmere
Shane Tronc
Second Rowers
Steven Southern
Ben Lowe
Luke O'Donnell
Mark Dalle Cort
Front Rowers
Carl Webb
Robert Tanielu
Mitchell Sargent
Utility Forwards
Rod Jensen
Lock
Travis Norton
Back Rowers
Justin Smith
Jacob Lillyman
Gavin Cooper
North Queensland Cowboys All Time Player List

Individual

Best and fairest player

Year	Player
1995	Wayne Sing
1996	Steve Edmed
1997	Owen Cunningham
1998	John Lomax
1999	Paul Bowman
2000	Paul Bowman and Julian O'Neill
2001	Glenn Morrison
2002	Matt Sing
2003	Paul Rauhihi
2004	Luke O'Donnell
2005	Johnathan Thurston

Representative players

Team	Name
Australia	Steve Walters, Matt Sing, Matt Bowen, Luke O'Donnell, Johnathan Thurston
New Zealand	John Lomax, Brian Jellick, Paul Rauhihi, David Faiumu
Wales	Kevin Ellis
New South Wales	Ian Roberts, Tim Brasher, Luke O'Donnell
New South Wales Country	Glenn Morrisson, Mitchell Sargent
New South Wales City	Luke O'Donnell
Queensland	Owen Cunningham, Steve Walters, Paul Green, Julian O'Neill, Paul Bowman, John Doyle, John Buttiegig, Nathen Fein, Matt Sing, Josh Hannay, Matt Bowen, Travis Norton, Ty Williams, Johnathan Thurston, Carl Webb, Matt Scott

Coaches

Years	Coach
1995	Grant Bell
1996	Graham Lowe
1997 - 2001	Tim Sheens
2001 - 2002	Murray Hurst
2002 - present	Graham Murray

Representative coaching staff

Team	Name
New South Wales	Tim Sheens (coach) Graham Murray (coach)
New South Wales City	Graham Murray (coach) Glen Murphy (trainer)
Queensland	Murray Hurst (assistant coach) Billy Johnstone (trainer)
Tonga	Murray Hurst (coach)

Most first grade games

Games	Player
166*	Paul Bowman
141*	Josh Hannay
131	Peter Jones
107*	Matthew Bowen
101	John Buttigieg

Note: These stats are up to season 2005 and that the players with * are still playing NRL rugby league.

Most points

Points	Player
858	Josh Hannay
300	Julian O'Neill
272	Matt Sing
266	Matt Bowen
236	Ty Williams

Team

Season results

Season records
Season	W	L	T	Finish	Playoff results
1995	2	20	-	20/20	--
1996	6	15	-	17/20	--
1997	5	11	2	10/10	--
1998	9	15	-	16/20	--
1999	4	19	1	16/17	--
2000	7	19	-	14/14	--
2001	6	18	2	13/14	--
2002	8	16	-	11/15	--
2003	10	14	-	11/15	--
2004	12	11	1	7/15	Preliminary finalists
2005	14	10	-	5/15	Grand finalists

Biggest wins

Margin	Result	Venue	Date
52	North Queensland Cowboys def. South Sydney Rabbitohs 60-8	Dairy Farmers Stadium	23 August 2003
46	North Queensland Cowboys def. St. George Illawarra Dragons 50-4	Dairy Farmers Stadium	29 April 2000
42	North Queensland Cowboys def. Cronulla Sharks 56-14	Dairy Farmers Stadium	4 June 2005
40	North Queensland Cowboys def. Northern Eagles 50-10	Dairy Farmers Stadium	25 March 2000
36	North Queensland Cowboys def. Bulldogs 48-12	Carrara Stadium	27 May 2005

Most consecutive losses

10 - July 25 1998 to April 10 1999

Full premiership record since 1995

Played - 266
Won - 90
Lost - 170
Drawn - 6
Points For - 5095 (881 tries, 777 goals, 17 field goals)
Points Against - 6917 (1,221 tries, 1,009 goals, 15 field goals)

Team of the Decade (1995-2004)

File:Decadeteam.jpg

North Queensland Cowboys Team of the Decade

In 2004, the North Queensland Cowboys conducted a poll asking NQ fans to vote on the best players who ever wore Cowboy colours. After polling had finished the North Queensland franchise released the overall best team to celebrate their first 10th anniversary.

Matt Bowen
Ty Williams
Josh Hannay
Paul Bowman
Matt Sing
Julian O'Neill
Laurie Spina
John Buttigieg
Steve Walters
Paul Rauhihi
Kevin Campion
Peter Jones
Glenn Morrison
Graham Murray (Coach)

References

The Official NRL 2003 Season Guide
The Official NRL 2004 Season Guide
The Official NRL 2005 Season Guide
2004 Official Rugby League Annual Big League Special Edition
2005 Official Rugby League Annual Big League Special Edition
History of Rugby League Clubs in Australia (Book)Author: Sean Fagan
Super League The Magazine Volume 1 - 20

External links

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